Thabiso Ntjolo, from Lesotho, and two of his compatriots Mohlatsi Letopo and Motlatsi 'Junior' Mava have been trading at the side of a busy intersection between Bathurst and Beaufort streets since 2010. According to Ntjolo, Makana Traffic cops come at least three times a month to confiscate their stock or pay fines of R300 to retain it.

As a result of Johannesburg's “Clean Sweep” initiative, launched in October 2013, as many as 6000 traders
(and an estimated 30,000 dependents) were left without a source of
income for rent, food, transportation and school-related expenses.

On 5th December, 2013 the Constitutional Court ruled that traders represented in a court case could return to
work until the full case against the city of Johannesburg can be tried
at court.